# Refinement and Evaluation of Group 3 Powered Personal Transfer System

> **NIH VA IK2** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2024 · —

## Abstract

All manual lifting and repositioning techniques have a high-risk for injury to caregivers. Work-related
back pain and injuries are a widespread epidemic and due in large part to repeated patient handling activities,
including lifting, transferring, and repositioning tasks. Bed to chair and chair to toilet transfers are consistently
ranked among the most physically stressful tasks required of patients and caregivers. Mechanical transfer
assist devices were found to reduce the risk of injury to caregivers. Consequently, several states have passed
bills requiring all hospitals to establish a ‘no manual lift’ policy for staff members who interact directly with
patients to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The most commonly used lift
technologies for dependent transfers of patients include the overhead ceiling lift, the floor-based sling lift, and
the Gantry lift. While these devices allow for safer transfer of patients, they do so with shortcomings. Overhead
sling lifts require extensive installation that may not be suitable for homes or buildings with structural
deficiencies or a low ceiling. Floor-based sling lifts have several issues with caregiver manipulation and ease of
use. Gantry lifts are very difficult to move and store due to their size. Research has demonstrated that people
with mobility impairments and caregivers both desire new, powered devices for safer and more comfortable
and independent transfers.
 The AgileLife Patient Transfer and Movement System (PTS) developed and commercially deployed by
Next Health, LLC is an integration of several assistive technologies that together automate the transfer of
immobile individuals to and from a hospital bed and a wheelchair. The PTS includes a hospital bed, an
integrated and detachable wheelchair/commode chair, a docking system, and a transfer ‘sheet’ that moves the
individual to and from the bed. The existing PTS was not originally designed for power wheelchairs or
independent use. However, a recent project developed modifications to a group 3 power wheelchair so that it
would be compatible with the AgileLife bed.
 The goals of this project will be to iteratively redesign, prototype and test the modified PTS and a
compatible group 3 power wheelchair so that the system could be be used by a greater number of people with
physical disabilities and independently. This will be accomplished by conducting focus groups to determine the
how the user interface should function for independent use; refining the design of the bed and the group 3
power wheelchair; completing usability testing of the new system; and conducting Clinical Limits of Use
Testing to identify situations and user characteristics for appropriate and inappropriate use for the system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10861386
- **Project number:** 1IK2RX004248-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathan Duvall
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10861386

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10861386, Refinement and Evaluation of Group 3 Powered Personal Transfer System (1IK2RX004248-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10861386. Licensed CC0.

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